Will the 26-27 Kings be a Bottom-5 Team in the NBA?

The Sacramento Kings are probably not sneaking up on anyone entering the 2026-27 NBA season.

As national projections and power rankings continue to roll out ahead of training camp, Sacramento remains near the bottom of the league conversation. During Monday’s edition of The Drive Guys, Kevin “Whitey” Gleason reacted to a new NBA power ranking from Law Murray that placed the Kings in the league’s bottom tier of his rankings on The Athletic.

Murray highlighted that the Kings have “a surplus of veterans returning from zombie seasons” and that there is “at least a clear need for another point guard to complement Acuff.” The countless injuries they dealt with last season were undeniably impactful.

As of now, the Kings are not being viewed as a playoff team or some sneaky Play-In threat. They are being viewed as a team starting over after their lottery edition, while they attempt to reset and reroute veterans like Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk.

Whitey questioned if this is the Kings’ version of rock bottom in the Sacramento era, even with a clear strategy behind it.

“I think finally, and I think it’s the right decision, and I think Scott Perry probably convinced everyone of that,” Gleason said. “We have to go back, and we’re going to have to start at ground zero.”

The standards for this season should be centered around individual development and incremental progress compared to previous seasons. This season appears to be about evaluation and their continued search and attempt to create an identity. Murray ranked them 27th in his power rankings, only ahead of New Orleans, Chicago, and Milwaukee.

Sacramento general manager Scott Perry is still trying to prove he can build a sustainable winner as the top decision-maker. Head Coach Doug Christie is still trying to prove he is the right long-term head coach. Most importantly, foundational rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. is trying to prove he can be a star in the league.

“My point is not, ‘Oh, this is hopeless. This is rock bottom,’” Gleason said. “My point is this is a really fascinating time in the history of the Sacramento Kings. You’ve got a lot of people with a lot to prove on the court and running things.”

Jay agreed that even the most optimistic Kings fan should acknowledge the challenge ahead.

“If they’re not willing to admit that this season is an uphill battle, then they’re definitely fooling themselves,” Jay said.

That is why Acuff’s rookie season matters so much; in a way, it’s all the Kings have to hold onto this season. Sacramento does not need him to look like a star immediately, but it does need him to look like a player worth building around. “Acuff just needs to look by the end of the year like he can be a focal point,” Gleason said.

If that happens, the Kings can be happy throughout a season even if it’s full of losses.

To listen to the full conversation, be sure to check out the Sactown Sports YouTube.

Listen to and watch Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys with Kevin “Whitey” Gleason and Allen Stiles, airing weekdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. PT on Sactown Sports.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

• Sacramento Kings to honor Rick Adelman with jersey band during 2026-27 season
• Keegan Murray still has a key role to play in Kings’ rebuild
• Zach LaVine has a chance to rebuild his value in Sacramento
• Report: Kings bringing veteran PGs in for workouts
• Potential 2027 NBA Free Agent Targets for the Sacramento Kings
• Maxime Raynaud’s 3-Point shooting could be his ‘golden ticket’ with Kings

What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The start of the 2026-27 season is quickly approaching for Keegan Murray and the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento will begin training camp in late September as they prepare to begin preseason play on Monday, October 5th when they face Luka Doncic and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.

Be sure to stay tuned to Sactown Sports all offseason for roster updates, analysis, and much more.

Sacramento Kings Schedule: 2026-27 Preseason

• Monday, October 5th vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7 P.M. PST)
• Thursday, October 8th @ Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 P.M. PST)
• Saturday, October 10th @ Golden State Warriors (5:30 P.M. PST)
• Tuesday, October 13th vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:00 P.M. PST)
• Friday, October 16th @ San Antonio Spurs (7:00 P.M. PST)

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